Can-opener.



A. P; READ.

CAN OPENER.

nrmourou FILED mums, 1909.

994,275. Patented Jim 6,1911.

inonzo P. READ, or GHIGAGO, ILLINOIS.

CAN-OPENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 23, 1909.

Serial No. 479,551.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Anonzo P. READ, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Chicago, Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Can-Openers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in can openers, and has for its object the production of a device that will combine lightness and strength.

A further object is the production of a device in which two blanks are so arranged together that a portion of the initial pressure applied to the instrument is taken up by the heel of the blade.

A further object is the production of improved means of securing the members of the device together.

These and such other objects as may hereinafter appear are attained by my device, an embodiment of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my device. Fig. 2 represents atop plan view of the operative end of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a side elevation of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 represents a sectional view on line 44 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 represents a sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Like .numerals of reference indicate like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The present device is an improvement on my prior invention covered by United States Letters Patent No. 819,455, issued to me, dated May 1st, 1906.

Referring now to the drawings-A represents the handle and B the blade of my device. The handle A comprises a strip of metal bent over at 7, the parallel ends of which 8 form the gripping portion of the handle. These two ends are brought together at 9, at which point projecting lugs 10 pass through an opening 11 in the base of the blade B. These lugs are upset at 12 and flattened upon the opposite side of the blade as shown clearly in Fig. 5. The extreme ends of the member 8 are curved outwardly from the point 9 as shown at 13, and

then inwardly, terminating at 14.

It will be noted that a portion of the members and the blade B, the purpose of which is to receive the upper edge of the can, the portion 13 extending downward outside thereof. The out turned fulcrum or edge 15, at either side, is thus left free to rock onthe upper edge of the can,

, The blade B is pointed at 18 and provided with sharpened edges 19 and curved upwardly at 20 and terminating in a flange 21 arranged practically at right angles to the direction of the blade. This flange 21 is slotted at 22 and rests against abutments 23 formed by cutting away a portion of the metal from the member 8.

In the use of my device, the end 18 of the blade is forced into the top of the can near its edge, the ends or wings 14 passing down on the outside of the can, the top edge of the can striking against the abutment 15. The flaring channel 17 permits the free use of the tool on curved surfaces and the under faces 16 grip the sides of the can, preventing the tool from slipping and insuring a clean and regular cut.

The slight curvature of the blade, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, prevents the blade binding against the inside of the can, and also allows the knife to follow more closely the edge and make a cleaner cut. As the handle A is forced downwardly in making the cut, the upper edge of the knife rises cutting through the top. Before the blade is wholly out of contact with the top, the shoulder 20 strikes the top of the edge, thus preventing the knife from coming out of the slot cut and the tool from slip-ping out of engagement with the can.

It will. be apparent that the curved base 20 gives greater strength to the tool and takes up much of the initial strain, and the bringing of this curved member flush with the edge of the member 8 at 24 gives a neater construction and prevents all liability of injuring the hands in the event of the handle slipping through the hands when in use.

The union of the ends at 9 and the use ofthe double riveting member 10-12 gives greater rigidity of construction and simplifies the manufacture of the device.

By the use of improved construction, I have produced a simple, efficient and cheap device, and one well designed to stand hard and constant use without breaking.

The portions 15 serve as fulcrums when the can opener is being operated around the Patented June 6, 1911.

edge of the can. If, however, it is desired to cut a slit or a small opening in the center of the can or top of the can, then this can be done by inserting the blade, and in such cases the rounded or convex outer surfaces of the portions 13 serve as fulcruins, as they are Well adapted to rest and rock upon the flat upper surface of the top of the can. With either method of opening the can, however, the bringing together of the two portions of the metal, so that they are riveted in the same opening, thus permitting one side to brace the other, serves to insure against breakage or loosening of the parts.

I claim:

In a can opener, a blade With an opening therein, and a handle consisting of two parts bent together and provided with lugs that are riveted in said opening, so that the two parts of the handle engage and brace each other, said handle having outwardly and laterally projecting portions that'serve as fulcruins, each fulcrum being adapted to rest upon the edge of a can, and prongs extending beyond and in continuation of said fulcrunis, said prongs curving around toward each other.

Signed by me at Chicago, Illinois, this 9th day of February, 1909.

ALONZO P. READ.

Vitnesses CLARENCE E. TAYLOR, J. NORBY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

